To begin making the Coimbatore Style Sambar Recipe, prep all the ingredients first. Soak the arhar dal in required water for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Once the lentils are soaked, drain the water, add the dal in a pressure with 2 cups water and pressure cook for about 4 whistle. Let the pressure release naturally.
In a saucepan, add drumstick, onions, tomatoes with sufficient water on high heat for about 10 minutes or till cooked. Keep it aside. You can use a bit of vegetable stock for grinding masalas for the sambar.
Heat a heavy bottomed pan with gingelly oil. Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, dry red chillies, coconut and roast for about a minute of till fragrant. Allow to cool to room temperature. You may spread this on a plate and leave on kitchen countertop for faster cooling.
In a mixer grinder, grind the masalas with the help of a bit of water, or the stock of boiled veggies to a smooth paste.
Add the ground masala back in the saucepan, add tamarind paste and start boiling the sambar with cooked dal, and about a glass more of water or to the required consistency.Add salt and stir well.
While the sambar comes to boil, in the kadai, heat a bit of gingelly oil. Once it is hot, on medium heat add the mustard seeds and allow them to splutter. Add curry leaves and saute for a few seconds, on low heat.
Once the sambar is boiled well for about 5-7 minutes, switch off heat, add the gingelly oil tadka, top it with some ghee and give it a stir. The Coimbatore sambar is ready to serve.
Serve Coimbatore Style Sambar Recipe with Steamed Rice Recipe and Capsicum Usili Recipe for a complete weekday meal.